I've found the less I visit Target and Kohl's (two of my former haunts) the healthier my bottom line. I bought a lot of crap over the years because it was "cheap" or clearances out, and I thought 'this will make a good gift for someone someday'.
In the end, I ended up giving family and friends cheap gifts they probably re-gifted to someone else. Now, I avoid the clearance and my compulsion to stock-pile gifts. I give family and friends cash these days.
Good points. I only buy things if I have a specific person and event in mind, though, and I really don't do it more than a few times a year. No stockpiling here! For instance, my grandma writes a ton of letters, so I keep an eye out for sales on stationery. I was at TJ Maxx today, looking for a jacket, and found a 3-pack of colored hair gel, which my son loves, for $4. That'll go in his Christmas stocking.
Other than immediate family, I only have my niece & nephew to buy for, plus my grandma because she's awesome. Siblings get gift cards. I get something for my parents, too, but they always have specific things they want, so I just do that.
I'd love to skip the gifts entirely, except for kids, but my parents won't let that happen. As long as they insist on buying me something, I feel obligated to get something for them, too. It's dumb, but it is what it is. I've tried to tell my mom that I really really really don't want anything, but when I do that, she gives me a gift card to someplace I never shop (it was JC Penney for my birthday). If I request something specific, I'll usually get the cheap version of it, which I end up returning, or something else entirely - Christmas 2011, I got long underwear. Seriously. WTF. This year, I asked for a specific model of bike trainer for indoor winter riding, or else a gift card to one of three places. I'll probably get a cheap crappy trainer and return it, the put the money towards the one I want. I know what their spending limit is, and I always make sure what I ask for is within it, but she'll go cheap so she can give me a few small things as well (things I don't want or need).
TL;DR - gifts are a pain in the ass.
frugalparagon - That's awesome! I have a couple of packs of newborn size diapers that I really doubt I'll use, but I don't have a receipt so I can't return them. They'll go to the next friend/family member to get pregnant, I guess.
purplepants - Hmmm, I might have to check out Ann Taylor. Thanks for the heads up. :)
